The Foundation Program

There are two new opportunities to join a study program! For those of you who have been attending the General Program (Monday, Thursday, Sunday, and branches classes etc.) for a while and wish to go deeper in your studies this is the perfect opportunity for you.

The Monday evening Foundation Program opening will start on March 1 and is studying Eight Steps to Happiness. The Wednesday evening Foundation Program opening will start on March 3 and is studying Joyful Path to Good Fortune.

If you are interested please read on for a fuller description.

If you decide you would like to try out the Foundation Program we offer a four week trial period at the end of which you can either commit to the program or continue with your General Program studies at that time. Please email the Education Program Coordinator, Karla Hassenstein, at epc@meditationinnewyork.org if you would like attend the trial classes.

The Foundation Program

Structured study and meditation on Buddha’s essential teachings at Chakrasambara Buddhist Center

Buddhism teaches that to find lasting happiness and meaning in our lives we need to follow a spiritual path. To follow this path it is important to have a close connection with a qualified Teacher who can give us personal advice and encouragement, to listen to pure Dharma teachings and to be a part of a strong spiritual community. In this way we are able to gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of Buddha’s teachings, maintain a daily
meditation practice that is both focused and powerful, and make genuine spiritual progress.

A UNIQUE STUDY PROGRAM
Through regular teachings and meditation, systematic study, and group discussion, the Foundation Program offers the same training followed by spiritual practitioners in an unbroken lineage dating back to Buddha Shakayamuni. In this way we can gain authentic experience of the Dharma while still maintaining our contemporary lifestyle. By studying on this program we shall gain great confidence in meditation - from basic techniques for overcoming our everyday problems to practices leading to unsurpassed happiness and permanent inner peace. Warm friendships develop as students inspire each other, sharing insights and experiences of the spiritual path.

WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE?
The secret of the Foundation Program's success lies in the manageable commitment made by the student and in the clear structure of study. Students sign up to study a book or part of a book, agree to attend every class, learn the material, and to take a test at the conclusion of the study. Class meets once a week for two and a half hours. There are two separate programs; one runs on Monday nights and the other on Wednesday nights. If for a suitable reason a student is not able to attend the class in person, he or she agrees to catch up by listening to a podcast of the class. There is also a commitment to participate in at least one chanted prayer session at the Center per month. Generally, the students take turns to putting up the shrine offerings and setting up the meditation room on the day of their class. In this way they learn about the rituals associated with Buddhist practice.

WHAT HAPPENS AT A CLASS?
Prior to class, students study an assigned portion of the text, usually a few pages long, and memorize the essential points. The class begins with chanted prayers and guided meditation. The teacher then reads the assigned selection from the book while giving commentary to the text. The students then divide into pairs to discuss the material. The teacher and students conclude by deciding what to meditate on in the next class and how to practice during the coming week.

WHAT BOOKS ARE STUDIED?
The purpose of the Foundation Program is to provide a systematic presentation of particular subjects of Mahayana Buddhism to enable practitioners to deepen their knowledge and experience of Buddhism.

Five subjects
The program comprises the following five subjects, based on Buddha’s Sutra teachings and the corresponding commentaries byVenerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso:

1. The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, based on the commentary Joyful Path of Good Fortune
2. Training the Mind, based on the commentaries Universal Compassion and Eight Steps to Happiness
3. The Heart Sutra, based on the commentary Heart of Wisdom
4. Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, based on the commentary Meaningful to Behold
5. Types of Mind, based on the commentary Understanding the Mind

On Monday nights Eight Steps to Happiness will be studied and on Wednesday nights Joyful Path to Good Fortune will be studied.

The benefits of studying and practicing these texts are as follows:

Joyful Path of Good Fortune – we gain the ability to put all Buddha’s teachings of both Sutra and Tantra into practice. We can easily make progress on and complete the stages of the path to the supreme happiness of enlightenment. From a practical point of view, the Stages of the Path is the main body of Buddha’s teachings, and the other teachings are like its limbs.

Eight Steps to Happiness – we gain the ability to integrate Buddha’s teachings into our daily lives and solve all our human problems.

THE TEACHER
The Foundation Program is taught by Sara Wendt on Monday nights and Taina Rodriguez on Wednesday nights. Both are experienced teachers who have been studying on the Teacher Training Program for many years.

WHEN IS THE CLASS?
Class is on either Monday nights from 6:30pm - 9:00pm or on Wednesday nights from 6:30pm - 9:00pm. You may enroll at the beginning of any course by contacting the Education Program Coordinator, Karla Hassenstein at epc@meditationinnewyork.org.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
The cost is $60 a month for the FP. This only covers the cost of your FP classes.

Alternatively you can become a full monthly cardholder at $80 a month, which also includes free admission to General Program Classes at the Center and branches, weekend events and retreats at the Center and empowerments at half-price.